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While it is safe to assume Chicago weather will be wet and very cold during the winter and hot and sticky during the summer, visiting during the spring and fall is always a gamble. A saying that applies to a great many other cities also applies to Chicago: If you don't like the weather, wait a while and it will change. In addition to packing for the weather, there are also some tips you'll want to know about packing for Chicago activities.

Winter

While much is written about the tough winters in Chicago, in reality the Windy City suffers no harder winters than most other big cities in the north. The difference is that many of those cities aren't situated right on Lake Michigan and so don't suffer the lake effect. For this reason, packing for a winter jaunt to Chicago means taking along shoes with a thick, rubber sole to help keep you on your feet while walking on ice on many of the city's sidewalks. You will also want to pack a hat that can withstand Chicago's notorious wind. Take along a warm coat, especially during January and February, as well as gloves or mittens. If you are driving, pack an ice scraper and a pair of chains for the tires. Also make sure your window washer fluid is topped out because you'll be using it to clean away that salt covering the roads.

Summer

Average temperatures even during July and August are still in the 70s with highs usually only in the 80s, but the city has had a few notorious heat waves into the 90s. The best advice is to pack T-shirts, shorts, and light clothing. If you are planning on visiting the city's museums as well as doing some shopping along the Magnificent Mile, be sure to bring along something warmer to slip into to deal with the air conditioning. Summer also affords the chance to take a dip in the still quite chilly waters of Lake Michigan so bring a swimsuit, along with a thick beach towel to warm you up as you dry yourself off.

Spring and Fall

Spring and fall can be tricky so it is best to pack layers of clothing. While late fall is bound to be mostly cold and early spring to be mostly warm, the effect of Lake Michigan on the weather patterns during these months means you should never assume. The temperature may swing dozens of degrees from the morning to evening so pack light shirts as well as heavy sweaters. This is especially true if you plan on seeing a Cubs or White Sox game in April or May or a Bears game in November. Be prepared for both warm-weather clothing and cold-weather clothing and the need to change from one to the other as the day progresses. Since Chicago is deserving of its reputation as the Windy City even during spring and fall, be sure to pack a baseball cap or some other light headgear.

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About the Author

Timothy Sexton's more than 10,000 articles have been published on sites ranging from USA Today to CareerAddict, from PopEater to TakeLessons.com. His writing has been referenced in books ranging from "The Reckless Life...of Marlon Brando" to "Brand New China: Advertising, Media and Commercial and from Scarface Nation to Incentive!"